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Toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics
Nechvátal, Marek ; Klouda, Karel
The article summarizes the knowledge about the influence of micro and nanoplastics on environmental components. Attention is paid to a complex set of the main toxic effects of plastic particles on selected groups of environmental organisms, especially new information and interactions with living organisms that have the potential to cause ecotoxicological damage.
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Graphene oxide (GO) and its ability to detect and capture bacteria and viruses
Roupcová, Petra ; Klouda, Karel ; Kleinová, Sabina
In recent years, advances in nanomaterials research have led to an increase in their various applications in almost every conceivable field, from electrodes to membranes to sports equipment and clothing. Graphene, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are becoming increasingly popular, mainly due to their extraordinary properties and structure. This paper summarizes the potential use of graphene oxide for trapping bacteria and viruses and other potential applications, especially in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
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"We drag the cart of capitalism on and on": Ethnography of factory production
Virtová, Tereza ; Stöckelová, Tereza (advisor) ; Abu Ghosh, Yasar (referee)
This thesis presents the main results of a five-month ethnographic research project in a global factory in the Czech Republic. It is focused on three topics. Due to a number of ethical dilemmas that accompanied the research, the first part examines ethics in anthropology, both the instruments of the institutionalization of professional ethics and "ethics in practice". As a strategy for dealing with ethical dilemmas the thesis aims at a reflexive approach, as proposed by Guillemin and Gillam (2004) not only to ensure rigor in research methodology, but also as a form of "morally adequate research work". The second research focus is the production line. The line makes sense - that is, produces stuff - only when people and machines interconnect. Symmetrical analysis juxtaposes humans and machines and explores the dynamics of agency as it shifts the borders between people and machines and the characteristics that each takes from the other. The last part of the thesis presents the factory as an actor in the labor market. Through the analysis of economic and organizational factors as well as workers" stories and interpretations and regional authorities" accounts, the final part tries to explain the perception of the factory as a stable and relatively solid employer. Keywords: global factory, ethics,...
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Diagnostics of lexical and semantic level of language in preschool age
Malechová, Veronika ; Šulová, Lenka (advisor) ; Morávková Krejčová, Lenka (referee)
This theses deals with diagnostic of speech development of pre-school children. Its focus is on lexical-semantic language level. The goal of my work is to trace and map diagnostic possibilities in the lexical- semantic area of of pre-school children and to introduce the international PPVT test , considering its adaptation into czech language environment. Theses consists of two parts - the theoretical and empiric. Theoretical part is concern with the most important theories and personalities in the speech development and the process of experiencing language, characteristics of pre-school period, ontogenesis of speech and the ways to evaluate vocabulary and semantics in Czech and overseas. The empiric part examines the usages of PPVT in czech environment. The survey was realised by quantitative research, using datas from 236 tested individuals. The PPVT was adapted into czech language and given to preschool children, whose results were compared with the results of american children. The outcomes of the empiric part could be a solution for future research in the area, with the purpose of adapting a testing- language instrument into czech language and widening the limited possibilities in the field of language and speech development evaluation. Keywords: ontogenesis of speech, pre-school period,...
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Guardians of the Public Interest: Frame Delimiting of watchdog Activism in the Context of Social scientific Discourse and in the Perspective of its Representatives
Beránková, Petra Alexandra ; Frič, Pavol (advisor) ; Kotlas, Petr (referee)
The work deals with the phenomenon of so called watchdog organizations. The increasing number and influence of these organizations indicates a creation of new social movement. The authoress defines them as a type of public benefit nongovernmental organizations focused on the controlling of the public sphere or advocating and asserting a "public interest" in relation to the democratization of society. The authoress target is to understand this type of action, so she asks herself the question: Which frameworks are used by watchdog activists for the interpretation of their acting? At first there is briefly presented the concept of watchdog in the context of wider reflections of contemporary society, mainly in the context of reflexive modernity, monitory and participatory democracy and information society. Secondly there is introduced Goffman's framework analysis and the related conceptualization of framework of social movements by Benford and Snow. The authoress highlights a definition of frames as the principles of selection, emphasis and presentation about what happens, and what matters. In the next part of this work, there are presented the methodology and results of the qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews with watchdog activists. The research is settled in the area of...
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Tectonic evolution of the central part of the Teplá-Barrandian unit
Hajná, Jaroslava ; Žák, Jiří (advisor) ; Schulmann, Karel (referee) ; Nance, Richard Damian (referee)
The principal goal of the thesis is to examine the tectonic evolution of the Teplá- Barrandian unit (TBU) of the central Bohemian Massif from Cadomian subduction and active margin processes, through Cambro-Ordovician extension to Variscan terrane collisions. The thesis is based on extensive field research, detailed structural mapping, and structural analysis, combined with other analytical methods such as the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) coupled with an analysis of magnetic mineralogy, analysis of deformational microstructures, and U, Th and Pb isotope analyses carried out by laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The most important conclusions of the thesis are as follows. (1) The Neoproterozoic (Cadomian) basement of the Teplá-Barrandian unit reveals a complex structure and mostly unclear stratigraphic relations of its components. It was proposed that this unit exposes perhaps the best preserved fragment of an accretionary wedge of the whole Avalonian-Cadomian belt, represented by the newly defined Blovice Complex. In the central part of the TBU, this complex consists of three lithotectonic belts differing in style and intensity of deformation, magnetic fabric, and degree of Cadomian regional metamorphism. In addition, the central...
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Lifestyle and relationships in the subculture of ballet
Erben, Jakub ; Buriánek, Jiří (advisor) ; Sládek, Jan (referee)
This thesis deals with the lifestyle and relationships among professional ballet dancers. Previous studies that have focused on this group, have not focused on the lifestyle as a complex phenomenon, the goal is therefore to supplement existing knowledge in this matter. Given the recent research coverage problem, the thesis uses explorative approach to the conceptual level based on the concepts of lifestyle and subculture and it uses methodologically a qualitative approach. In particular, the conceptual basis in the form of subculture largely determines the orientation, the process and the structure of the paper. It figures as a tool that allows us to organize a view of professional ballet dancers. After defining the concepts related to ballet and introducing the factual account of events enabling to look into the historical and institutional context in which Czech ballet dancers act, followed by a description logic of its study in this paper, including basic concepts of introducing subculture and lifestyle, and clarification of the used methodology. The results of qualitative research among professional ballet dancers that form the core of the paper, are then presented in the next section. Among ballet dancers there were then monitored various aspects of their lives and lifestyles. As an important...
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Thermoregulation in ant genus Formica, an individual vs. colony conflict
Kadochová, Štěpánka ; Frouz, Jan (advisor) ; Dauber, Jens (referee) ; Domisch, Timo (referee)
This thesis deals with thermoregulation in red wood ants, in Formica rufa group. Our aim was to better understand the mechanisms by which red wood ants maintain thermal homeostasis in their nests. Red wood ants are known to keep high and stable temperatures in their nests from spring to autumn. Most emphasis is placed on the role of the nest mound as a solar collector or on a heat production by microbial community present in the nest material. However, some researchers believe that wood ants are able of active nest thermoregulation in which they can affect the nest temperature by behavioural reactions, mainly by sun basking, increased metabolic heat production or heat transport. The thesis consists of three research articles. The first one is focused on the timing of thermoregulation in red wood ants, the second one investigates in more detail one specific aspect of red wood ant thermoregulation - a sun basking behaviour. These two papers provide data from long-term field observations and experiments. The last paper is based on laboratory experiments where we tested a hypothesis resulting from field observations. Thanks to the field research we found out that ant activity (traffic on ant trails) significantly correlates with nest temperature; once the activity decreased the thermal homeostasis...
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Vliv stavu a funkce imunitního systému na pohlavní výběr u ptáků
Vinkler, Michal ; Albrecht, Tomáš (advisor) ; Kleven, Oddmund (referee) ; Grim, Tomáš (referee)
Evolution is a most fascinating feature of all living things in our world. The means of organismal evolution are diverse, comprising mainly of natural and sexual selection. Both of these phenomena may contribute to evolutionary adaptations in health and disease. The questions of immunity impact on the process of sexual selection and sexual selection for increased anti-parasite resistance are wide issues of the present research in natural sciences. Their clarification requires multidisciplinarily-based investigation combining a variety of partial results into a single united paradigm. My co-workers and I have chosen several specific issues to study, in order to fill some of the important gaps of the current knowledge. We proposed the Carotenoid maintenance handicap hypothesis to point out that optimisation instead of maximisation of the carotenoid intake and ornamental display may be physiologically convenient for the individual. In Scarlet rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) we confirmed the role of the carotenoid-based ornamental colouration in the process of sexual selection and investigated several partial aspects of the association between immunogenetics, immune function, health and the ornament expression and mate choice. In Zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) we have shown that the present way of...
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Education and development of children in lesbian family
Sedláčková, Anna ; Šulová, Lenka (referee) ; Gillernová, Ilona (referee)
The thesis deals with topic of lesbian families and specifics of children from these families. The theoretical part of the work is supported by studies from the USA and the Great Britain in particular. This part is focused on definition of homoparental family and its types, specifics of upbringing and relations within. It also deals with the topic of coming-out. It gives account of the family roles - biological mother, biological father, social mother / stepmother. The second half of the theoretical part describes psychological, gender and social development of the children from lesbian families. There are also mentioned some children's feelings and views of their nontraditional family and homosexuality of their parents. The thesis also deals with lesbian adoptive families. The research presented in the empirical part is based on individual interviews and projective techniques. The study group comprises 10 children between the age 4 and 15. In the study group there are children from previous heterosexual relationship as well as children from planned lesbian families. Participants to the sample were recruited via advertising and snow ball technique. The research is qualitative and its outcomes are elaborated in the form of case study report. The list of crucial themes elaborated through clustering...
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